Has the Republican Party drifted off into the Twilight Zone?
Cue Twilight Zone Music:
Too Dee Too Doo,
Too Dee Too Doo.
Michael McAuliff, writes Democrats' Equal Pay Push Is 'Condescending,' GOP Rep. Lynn Jenkins Says. Jenkins suggest that our Democratic push for equal pay for equal work reveals our lack of understanding of how women contribute to the workforce and shows our lack of respect for women's choices. Seriously, Jenkins, WTH?
"Some folks don't understand that women have become an extremely valuable part of the workforce today on their own merit, not because the government mandated it," Jenkins said ...
"Many ladies I know feel like they are being used as pawns, and find it condescending [that] Democrats are trying to use this issue as a political distraction from the failures of their economic policy," Jenkins said.
Strange, but true. Do not adjust you computer screens. But, wait, Republicans are about to get even weirder.
When asked what legislation Republicans would consider to close the pay gap House Majority Leader Eric Cantor responded in a way you might think I am making up, or writing under our Hydrant Satire masthead, but I am not. When asked his opinion, Eric Canter suggested that:
... repealing part of Obamacare would help, and pointed to a bill the House GOP passed last week to change the definition of full-time work in the law from 30 hours a week to 40.
"If you look to see those most impacted, it's women. Sixty-three percent of those impacted by the 30-hour workweek rule are women," Cantor said. "If the Senate Democrats would pick [the bill] up, we could help women right now."
What? Seriously, Eric Canter? WTH?
Michael McAuliff tells us independent fact-checkers have found the claim that the ACA is causing employers to push women disproportionately into lower wage, less than 30 hour per week position in order to avoid paying health care is false.
So, let's review Democrats. The big problem of unequal pay for women in America is that Democrats are condescending, don't understand how women contribute to the economy, and don't respect women's choices. But, don't worry women the Republican Party is on its way to help you by repealing Obama care or at least parts of it.
Shame on you Democrats.
At least now we will know what's going on if we soon hear the Republicans claiming to be the Party that respects and supports a woman's "right to choose" ... to work for lower wages.
Yes, this is reality, do not try to adjust your computer.
Cue Twilight Zone Music:
Too Dee Too Doo,
Too Dee Too Doo.
12:19 PM PT: McAuliff has just rewritten this article into a different article including Mitch McConnell's statement that the Democratic push for equal pay for equal work is part of the "left's latest bizarre obsession." Plus he has included additional statements by Jenkins.
Republicans Slam Dems' Equal Pay Push As 'Bizarre,' 'Condescending' To Women
WASHINGTON -- Democrats' push for pay equity between men and women is "condescending," one of the top women in the House Republican leadership argued Tuesday, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called it the "left's latest bizarre obsession."
"Please allow me to set the record straight. We strongly support equal pay for equal work, and I'm proud that I live in a country where it's illegal to discriminate in the workplace thanks to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964," said Jenkins. "Some folks don't understand that women have become an extremely valuable part of the workforce today on their own merit, not because the government mandated it."
"Many ladies I know feel like they are being used as pawns, and find it condescending [that] Democrats are trying to use this issue as a political distraction from the failures of their economic policy," Jenkins said.
"Instead of focusing on jobs, [Reid] launched into another confusing attack on the left's latest bizarre obsession," McConnell said, adding that Reid was refusing to entertain GOP suggestions on the economy. "Democrats chose to ignore serious job-creation ideas so they could blow a few kisses to their powerful pals on the left."
This press conference was held so McConnell and Jenkins could deliver these sound byte phrase for newspaper articles and news reports for this evening's new cycles. "left's latest" bizarre obsession," is meant to blow "equal work for equal pay" off the headline. And, women chose to have "flexibility" is meant to give women watching the news a common sense alternative explanation for why wages are different. "Well of course, I want the kind of job where I can be free to come pick up the children from day care, or after school at 3:00 p.m." The only thing missing here is the accusation that we Democrats are trying to "take this flexibility away from women, by forcing the to get equal pay against their will!" What dastardly ratfinks we can be. Have we no shame? (snark alert.)